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Townsville vs Wide Bay

Name: Townsville vs Wide Bay — 2021 Census comparison
Creator: Australian Bureau of Statistics
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Region (SA4) comparison ≈ 849 km apart · Townsville profile · Wide Bay profile

Townsville Wide Bay

Wide Bay and Townsville are both large Queensland regions, but they have very different profiles. Wide Bay is a much older area, with a typical resident aged 49 and 27.3% of the population aged 65 and over. In contrast, Townsville is younger, with a typical age of 37. This age gap helps explain why Wide Bay has far more homes owned outright (42.5% compared to 27.8% in Townsville) and a much lower share of adults working or looking for work (47.2% versus 61.8%). Townsville also has more people who finished Year 12 and typical weekly household incomes that are $525 higher than in Wide Bay.

Both areas sit close to the national figure for the share of people with no religion. They also share similar rates of people born overseas and almost identical numbers of one-parent families. However, the gap in typical ages has widened since 2011, and the difference in typical incomes has also grown. Townsville provides far better access to basics, with a much higher share of homes within a 15-minute walk of public transport, parks and health services.

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Where they differ most

Median age: 12 yrs older in Wide Bay Owned outright: 14.8 pts higher in Wide Bay Personal income: $269 higher in Townsville Participation: 14.6 pts higher in Townsville Unpaid carers: 2.9 pts higher in Wide Bay

Demographics & Identity

Population in Townsville in Wide Bay +73,462 larger in Wide Bay gap widening

234,283 54th pct 307,745 71st pct

Median age in Townsville in Wide Bay +12 yrs older in Wide Bay gap widening

37 yrs 29th pct 49 yrs 97th pct

Age structure

25.0% Older adults (45–64) +2.5 pts ▸ 27.5%

15.9% Seniors (65+) +11.4 pts ▸ 27.3%

26.3% Young adults (25–44) ◂ +7.1 pts 19.2%

18.9% Children (0–14) ◂ +2.8 pts 16.1%

13.9% Youth (15–24) ◂ +4.0 pts 9.9%

Marital status

41.7% Married +5.5 pts ▸ 47.2%

40.4% Never married ◂ +10.7 pts 29.6%

9.4% Divorced +2.5 pts ▸ 11.9%

4.7% Widowed +2.2 pts ▸ 6.9%

3.8% Separated +0.5 pts ▸ 4.4%

Age & sex structure

Townsville Wide Bay

Bars show the share of each area's own population, so differently sized areas stay comparable.

Ancestry & Birthplace

Country of birth

79.2% Australia +0.4 pts ▸ 79.7%

2.3% England +1.4 pts ▸ 3.7%

2.0% New Zealand +0.5 pts ▸ 2.5%

1.0% Philippines ◂ +0.3 pts 0.7%

0.8% India ◂ +0.5 pts 0.3%

0.5% South Africa even 0.5%

0.4% Italy ◂ +0.3 pts 0.2%

0.2% China ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Vietnam even 0.1%

0.1% Nepal even 0.1%

Ancestry

36.9% English +6.4 pts ▸ 43.2%

36.9% Australian +2.7 pts ▸ 39.5%

11.1% Irish ◂ +0.7 pts 10.3%

10.2% Scottish +0.4 pts ▸ 10.6%

5.2% German +3.2 pts ▸ 8.4%

6.6% Italian ◂ +4.7 pts 1.9%

1.2% Dutch +0.2 pts ▸ 1.5%

1.4% Filipino ◂ +0.4 pts 1.0%

1.2% Chinese ◂ +0.5 pts 0.7%

1.1% Indian ◂ +0.6 pts 0.5%

0.7% Greek ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Language

Language used at home

83.9% English only +5.1 pts ▸ 89.0%

0.6% Italian ◂ +0.4 pts 0.2%

0.4% Tagalog ◂ +0.2 pts 0.2%

0.3% Mandarin even 0.3%

0.2% Vietnamese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Punjabi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Greek ◂ +0.1 pts 0.0%

0.2% Hindi ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.2% Cantonese ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

0.1% Arabic ◂ +0.1 pts 0.1%

Religion

Religious affiliation

50.1% Christianity ◂ +1.9 pts 48.2%

37.7% No religion +3.1 pts ▸ 40.7%

9.8% Not stated ◂ +0.7 pts 9.2%

0.7% Buddhism even 0.7%

0.6% Hinduism ◂ +0.3 pts 0.3%

0.6% Other religions ◂ +0.1 pts 0.5%

0.5% Islam ◂ +0.2 pts 0.3%

0.0% Judaism even 0.0%

Education & Qualifications

Schools in Townsville in Wide Bay +51 more in Wide Bay

112 55th pct 163 88th pct

Schools/1k kids in Townsville in Wide Bay +0.77 more in Wide Bay

2.53 59th pct 3.29 72nd pct

Students in Townsville in Wide Bay +1,949 more in Wide Bay

43,756 54th pct 45,705 56th pct

Avg size in Townsville in Wide Bay +109 larger in Townsville

391 42nd pct 282 29th pct

ICSEA in Townsville in Wide Bay +4 higher in Wide Bay

963 14th pct 967 18th pct

Highest year of school

51.0% Year 12 ◂ +13.0 pts 38.1%

23.2% Year 10 +8.1 pts ▸ 31.3%

9.2% Year 9 or below +5.3 pts ▸ 14.5%

7.3% Year 11 +0.3 pts ▸ 7.6%

Highest qualification level

35.7% Certificate III / IV +4.5 pts ▸ 40.2%

19.8% Bachelor degree ◂ +5.3 pts 14.5%

13.2% Advanced diploma / diploma +0.7 pts ▸ 13.8%

5.2% Postgraduate degree ◂ +2.4 pts 2.9%

2.6% Certificate I / II +0.8 pts ▸ 3.3%

3.0% Graduate diploma / certificate ◂ +0.6 pts 2.4%

Field of qualification

16.9% Engineering & related ◂ +0.4 pts 16.5%

14.0% Management & commerce ◂ +0.6 pts 13.5%

11.7% Health ◂ +1.1 pts 10.7%

11.6% Society & culture ◂ +0.2 pts 11.5%

8.0% Education +0.5 pts ▸ 8.6%

5.5% Food, hospitality & personal services +0.8 pts ▸ 6.3%

5.3% Architecture & building +0.9 pts ▸ 6.2%

1.9% Agriculture & environment +1.1 pts ▸ 3.0%

2.7% Natural & physical sciences ◂ +1.4 pts 1.3%

1.9% Creative arts ◂ +0.2 pts 1.6%

1.4% Information technology ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Income

Personal income in Townsville in Wide Bay +$269 higher in Townsville gap widening

$826 61st pct $557 0th pct

Household income in Townsville in Wide Bay +$525 higher in Townsville gap widening

$1,621 47th pct $1,096 0th pct

Family income in Townsville in Wide Bay +$666 higher in Townsville gap widening

$2,016 53rd pct $1,350 0th pct

Household income distribution

27.1% $650–$1,499 +8.8 pts ▸ 35.9%

30.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +7.7 pts 23.3%

15.4% Under $650 +7.7 pts ▸ 23.2%

9.6% $3,000–$3,999 ◂ +4.3 pts 5.3%

7.8% $4,000 or more ◂ +3.9 pts 3.9%

Personal income distribution

36.8% Under $650 +14.6 pts ▸ 51.4%

32.4% $650–$1,499 ◂ +4.1 pts 28.3%

17.9% $1,500–$2,999 ◂ +8.2 pts 9.7%

2.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +1.2 pts 1.6%

Health & Disability

Long-term health conditions reported

9.1% Arthritis +5.9 pts ▸ 15.0%

9.9% Mental health +2.2 pts ▸ 12.1%

8.0% Other condition +2.2 pts ▸ 10.2%

8.0% Asthma +1.8 pts ▸ 9.8%

4.4% Heart disease +2.3 pts ▸ 6.6%

4.9% Diabetes +1.7 pts ▸ 6.6%

3.0% Cancer +1.4 pts ▸ 4.5%

2.1% Lung condition +2.0 pts ▸ 4.1%

0.9% Stroke +0.7 pts ▸ 1.6%

0.8% Dementia +0.3 pts ▸ 1.1%

Number of long-term health conditions

60.0% None ◂ +7.7 pts 52.4%

19.1% One condition +3.4 pts ▸ 22.5%

6.3% Two conditions +3.0 pts ▸ 9.2%

3.5% Three or more +2.6 pts ▸ 6.1%

Community Participation

First Nations

First Nations people in Townsville in Wide Bay +4,340 larger in Townsville

21,180 88th pct 16,840 86th pct

Median age in Townsville in Wide Bay +1 yrs older in Wide Bay

22 yrs 14th pct 23 yrs 29th pct

Median income in Townsville in Wide Bay +$76 higher in Townsville

$552 33rd pct $476 17th pct

Household income in Townsville in Wide Bay +$249 higher in Townsville

$1,461 42nd pct $1,212 8th pct

Family & Households

Household size in Townsville in Wide Bay +0.2 larger in Townsville gap steady

2.5 57th pct 2.3 14th pct

Family composition

52.6% Couples with children ◂ +8.1 pts 44.5%

28.8% Couples without children +8.3 pts ▸ 37.2%

17.3% One-parent families even 17.3%

1.3% Other families ◂ +0.2 pts 1.1%

Household size

35.8% 2 people +5.3 pts ▸ 41.1%

26.8% 1 person +1.2 pts ▸ 28.0%

15.3% 3 people ◂ +2.6 pts 12.7%

13.2% 4 people ◂ +2.9 pts 10.3%

5.7% 5 people ◂ +0.9 pts 4.9%

3.2% 6 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 3.1%

Housing & Dwellings

Rent in Townsville in Wide Bay +$20 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$300 31st pct $280 25th pct

Mortgage in Townsville in Wide Bay +$217 higher in Townsville gap narrowing

$1,517 29th pct $1,300 14th pct

People / bedroom in Townsville in Wide Bay even gap steady

0.80 29th pct 0.80 29th pct

How homes are owned or rented

27.8% Owned outright +14.8 pts ▸ 42.5%

35.0% Rented ◂ +9.9 pts 25.1%

33.8% Owned with a mortgage ◂ +5.7 pts 28.1%

1.8% Other tenure +0.4 pts ▸ 2.2%

1.7% Not stated +0.4 pts ▸ 2.1%

Types of homes

82.5% Separate house +5.3 pts ▸ 87.8%

10.3% Townhouse / semi-detached ◂ +4.0 pts 6.3%

6.0% Flat or apartment ◂ +2.3 pts 3.7%

0.9% Other dwelling +0.9 pts ▸ 1.7%

Bedrooms per home

40.7% 3 bedrooms +2.4 pts ▸ 43.2%

30.7% 4 bedrooms ◂ +3.3 pts 27.5%

16.8% 2 bedrooms ◂ +0.1 pts 16.7%

5.8% 5 or more ◂ +0.4 pts 5.4%

3.7% 1 bedroom +0.6 pts ▸ 4.3%

0.5% Studio / none +0.4 pts ▸ 0.9%

Weekly rent distribution

49.4% $200–$349 +6.7 pts ▸ 56.1%

29.2% $350–$549 ◂ +7.4 pts 21.8%

16.0% Under $200 +1.1 pts ▸ 17.1%

1.7% $550–$749 ◂ +0.8 pts 0.9%

0.4% $750 or more ◂ +0.1 pts 0.3%

Monthly mortgage distribution

43.5% $1,000–$1,799 even 43.5%

19.6% Under $1,000 +9.6 pts ▸ 29.2%

24.6% $1,800–$2,999 ◂ +7.8 pts 16.8%

6.8% $3,000 or more ◂ +2.4 pts 4.4%

Transport & Vehicles

PT stops in Townsville in Wide Bay +167 more in Townsville

636 26th pct 469 14th pct

Stops/1k in Townsville in Wide Bay +1.19 more in Townsville

2.71 14th pct 1.52 7th pct

Departures/1k in Townsville in Wide Bay +423.8 more in Townsville

487.9 38th pct 64.2 5th pct

PT routes in Townsville in Wide Bay +18 more in Wide Bay

16 10th pct 34 19th pct

How people get to work

69.6% Car (driver) ◂ +2.0 pts 67.6%

5.6% Worked at home +2.4 pts ▸ 7.9%

5.4% Car (passenger) +0.5 pts ▸ 5.9%

2.7% Walked +0.2 pts ▸ 2.9%

1.0% Bus ◂ +0.4 pts 0.6%

0.9% Bicycle ◂ +0.4 pts 0.5%

0.0% Train even 0.0%

Motor vehicles per home

39.4% 2 vehicles ◂ +3.2 pts 36.2%

34.8% 1 vehicle +2.6 pts ▸ 37.3%

13.4% 3 vehicles ◂ +0.1 pts 13.3%

6.8% 4 or more +0.9 pts ▸ 7.7%

5.6% No vehicle ◂ +0.1 pts 5.5%

Migration & Movement

Jobs & Industry

Industries people work in

16.7% Health care & social assistance +1.4 pts ▸ 18.1%

11.4% Public administration & safety ◂ +6.3 pts 5.2%

9.1% Retail trade +1.4 pts ▸ 10.5%

9.5% Education & training ◂ +0.7 pts 8.7%

8.1% Construction +0.5 pts ▸ 8.6%

3.2% Agriculture, forestry & fishing +5.0 pts ▸ 8.2%

7.2% Accommodation & food ◂ +0.3 pts 6.9%

5.3% Manufacturing +1.4 pts ▸ 6.7%

4.2% Professional & technical ◂ +1.2 pts 3.1%

4.1% Transport & warehousing ◂ +0.6 pts 3.5%

3.9% Other services +0.1 pts ▸ 4.0%

3.2% Mining ◂ +1.1 pts 2.2%

Occupations people work in

18.5% Professionals ◂ +4.0 pts 14.6%

15.4% Community & personal service ◂ +0.9 pts 14.5%

10.2% Labourers +4.6 pts ▸ 14.8%

14.7% Technicians & trades ◂ +0.7 pts 13.9%

12.0% Clerical & administrative ◂ +1.0 pts 11.0%

10.9% Managers +0.8 pts ▸ 11.8%

8.5% Sales workers +1.0 pts ▸ 9.5%

8.1% Machinery operators & drivers ◂ +0.1 pts 7.9%

Economy & Advantage

ERP in Townsville in Wide Bay +86,573 higher in Wide Bay

249,097 44th pct 335,670 63rd pct

Growth in Townsville in Wide Bay +3.1 pts higher in Wide Bay

4.9% 38th pct 8.0% 72nd pct

Environment & Climate

Rainfall in Townsville in Wide Bay +34 higher in Townsville

669 33rd pct 635 29th pct

Max temp in Townsville in Wide Bay +2.3 higher in Townsville

31.6 94th pct 29.3 89th pct

Min temp in Townsville in Wide Bay +2.7 higher in Townsville

17.0 92nd pct 14.3 81st pct

Walkability

Walk score in Townsville in Wide Bay +1.4 higher in Townsville

4.1 27th pct 2.6 7th pct

Types ≤15 min in Townsville in Wide Bay +1.3 more in Townsville

4.1 27th pct 2.8 8th pct

15-min city in Townsville in Wide Bay +17.7 pts higher in Townsville

48.4% 29th pct 30.8% 8th pct

Walk to shops in Townsville in Wide Bay +10.0 pts higher in Townsville

46.6% 27th pct 36.7% 11th pct

Walk to transit in Townsville in Wide Bay +33.7 pts higher in Townsville

55.7% 26th pct 22.0% 8th pct

Walk to school in Townsville in Wide Bay +17.2 pts higher in Townsville

53.8% 29th pct 36.6% 10th pct

Walk to a park in Townsville in Wide Bay +19.7 pts higher in Townsville

77.5% 34th pct 57.8% 9th pct

Walk to health in Townsville in Wide Bay +15.9 pts higher in Townsville

38.6% 39th pct 22.8% 8th pct

Amenities/1k in Townsville in Wide Bay +1.6 more in Wide Bay

10.0 1st pct 11.6 13th pct

Intersections/km² in Townsville in Wide Bay +0 higher in Wide Bay

0 12th pct 1 20th pct

Mean slope in Townsville in Wide Bay +2.1 pts higher in Wide Bay

3.9% 14th pct 5.9% 59th pct

Compare Townsville with nearby areas

Cairns Mackay - Isaac - Whitsunday Queensland - Outback Central Queensland Wide Bay Darling Downs - Maranoa Moreton Bay - North Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Bay - South Ipswich Brisbane - West

Compare Wide Bay with nearby areas

Moreton Bay - North Sunshine Coast Toowoomba Moreton Bay - South Brisbane - North Ipswich Brisbane - West Brisbane Inner City Brisbane - South Brisbane - East Central Queensland Logan - Beaudesert

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Townsville vs Wide Bay [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/compare/sa4/318/townsville/vs/319/wide-bay